While Darius thought about their situation, fear seeped within the teenager’s mind. Whispers started to grow as they realised no one understood what had happened. A pandemic of panic spread from the weak-willed. Soon, violent yelling, shaking silhouettes and tears could be heard around the meadow.

Darius knew a commotion was the worst possible outcome. At any moment, the group could splinter into chaos. Compassion and calling to reason would only help the confusion to grow. He needed to react swiftly and drastically.

Standing from all his height, he ordained:

“Silence!”

His adamant voice froze his fellow. His wrathful eyes swiped across the panicked teenagers, urging them to regain control or to face his fury. As calm prevailed, he allowed himself to relax. Darius had prevented the worst, but by doing so, he had placed himself as the pivotal stone of the group.

“Losing yourself will only complicate our situation.” He spoke calmly. “We must remain calm, reflect on our situation and act judiciously to avoid any danger. First, we need to understand what is happening and get situated. Does anyone have an idea where we can be?”

The younger teenager stared at him with gleaming eyes before looking at each other, hoping someone could answer Darius’ question.

Only the birds were chanting again until a lonely hand flew high.

She belonged to one of the youngest girls. She rested against the second largest crystal, curled up in a ball. Her long, wavy red hairs surrounded her tiny face, and her olive eyes were still reddish from the tears shed. Tremor shook her fragile body as she tried to get her sobs under control.

“This place is not on Earth.” She announced in a broken voice. “Those trees, those plants… there is nothing like this where we came from. I don’t understand… I can’t recognise anything.”

Hideaki stared at the forest. His eyebrows lifted, and he leered down the girl.

“Maybe they come from some remote place? A tropical island maybe?” tried to reason the intellectual.

“You don’t get it. I’m a bio-scientist. I always study plants, and those things… are not normal.”

She broke into tears again, destroyed by a truth she could only discern. Another girl reached for the redhead to comfort her while another wave of whispers spread. Darius’ face darkened like night losing its moon. He pointed at Hideaki and ordered him to follow him further away. Once the giant crystal was between them and the group, Darius rubbed his sore neck.

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“Listen”, he called. “I have no idea what is happening or if this girl told the truth. However, I am certain we should guide this group. We are the only ones with enough shoulders to take this mantle.”

Biting his thumb, Hideaki looked at the group of mindless sheep. They were trying to get answers from the redhead, answers she didn’t possess. The lack of sagacity of the other stranded annoyed him, but with proper leadership, they could become helpful.

“All right, I will help you. But don’t expect me to put my life in danger for one of those idiots.”

Darius agreed with a silent node. He had already predicted this answer from Hideaki.

While the two de facto leaders were talking, something moved at the border of the forest. The most attentive or paranoiac heard the unnatural sound of crushed branches and leaves. They cowered back, trying to identify what was coming for them.

Darius, feeling the commotion, rushed to the side of his comrade. He peered into the wood, trying to identify what was coming.

Suddenly, the green veil erupted. Two other teenagers tumbled down to the ground. The first was a girl with ink-like hair, and the second was a blond-haired young man. Both were covered with dirt and leaves. Their chests rose and fell with rapid breath; they had run back to the clearing.

“Who are you?”

“Where are they coming from?”

“Move! I can’t see!”

Eïrin bounced on her toes and turned toward the other. Pale as death, still certain death was running behind them, she barked:

“Shut up! Can you keep silent for ten seconds!”

They all closed their mouths, but the girl had already turned back toward the forest. She peered in the endless green, looking for her pursuer.

“I think… I think it didn’t follow.” Said Nikolai after a while.

“I can’t believe it. We are so lucky.”

She whipped the sweat from her face and dropped to the ground. The chimeric wolf had left them alone for the moment.

“Who are you? Are you also a member of the group?”

Nikolai looked over his shoulder. A red-haired giant was looming above him, his eyes filled with intelligence.

“I’m Nikolai, and the girl is Eïrin. We were the first to wake up, so we ventured into the forest to scout a bit.”

Questions filled everyone’s mind. They were curious about the world hiding behind the green border, and many were eager to explore it. With a gesture of the hand, Darius called for calm, but this time, Hideaki spoke.

“Wait a bit! How can we be sure they are what they say? They just came out of nowhere and could be with whoever took us here.”

Eïrin’s pupils flared. She stood up and stared the Asian boy in the eyes.

“What do you want? Some proof we are lost in the forest? Do you have one too?”

The response was quick and sharp. Hideaki’s mouth twitched. He was about to counter when his sister whispered:

“I… remember their voice.”

Hideaki stared at his sister in disbelief. That last crossed her harm over her body, hiding herself in a protective cocoon. Without a word, Hideaki returned to the two adventurers.